Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidasora’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘Sidasora’ is disclosed, characterized by light pink flowers, light green leaves and a compact inflorescence. The new variety is a  Hydrangea,  and naturally blooms from April through September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘Sidasora’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The intent of this breeding program is to produce stronger pot plant varieties with attractive flower colors. The new variety was discovered as a seedling within the planned breeding program. This seedling is a result from the crossing of the female parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9796 with the male parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9659. The crossing was made by the inventor, Daniel van der Spek in the summer of 1999. ‘Sidasora’ was selected by Daniel van der Spek in May of 2002 in Nootdorp, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Sidasora’ by vegetative cuttings was performed in Nootdorp, The Netherlands and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sidasora’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sidasora’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sidasora’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Flattened inflorescence;     -   2. Unique petal coloration of light pink;     -   3. Light green foliage;     -   4. Strong plant, resisting breaking in production and         post-harvest situations.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidasora’ are similar to plants of the female parent, ‘9796’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidasora’ has significantly different flower coloration. Flowers of the new cultivar are distinctively light pink, while the female parent has light purple and white flower coloration and less flowers per inflorescence. ‘Sidasora’ differs from the male parent ‘9659’ in foliage color. Foliage of the new cultivar is darker than the male parent. Additionally, the new variety has foliage that is more resistant to stress.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidasora’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety ‘Snow,’ unpatented in the United States in plant shape, growth habit and foliage color. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidasora’ differ in the following characteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Sidasora’ is much more resistant to stress than         ‘Snow’.     -   2. ‘Sidasora’ produces more lateral branches than ‘Snow.’     -   3. ‘Sidasora’ flowers are light pink whereas the flowers of         ‘Snow’ are white.     -   4. ‘Sidasora’ flowers earlier than ‘Snow’ under production         greenhouse conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical blooming plant of ‘Sidasora’ grown in a greenhouse. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Sidasora’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Brielle, The Netherlands from October 2005 to October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. at night to 18° C. to 20° C. during the day. The pH of the growing medium was between 5.0 and 5.5. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar ‘Sidasora.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 19 to 21 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Flowering perennial shrub. -   Height: Approximately 39 cm. from soil level to the top of the     inflorescence. -   Blooming period: Naturally blooming April through September. -   Plant spread: Approximately 57.5 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate to Vigorous. -   Branching characteristics: Moderately free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 27.3 cm. -   Number of lateral branches: Approximately 9. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.7 cm. -   Pinching required: Yes.     -   -   Details of pinching.—The first pinch is given at 8 weeks             from the planting of a rooted cutting. A second pinch is             given 12 weeks from planting a rooted cutting. -   Lateral branch shape: Round. -   Lateral branch strength: Very strong. -   Lateral branch texture: Leathery. -   Lateral branch color: Approximately RHS Yellow-Green 144A, slightly     tinged at the nodes with RHS Greyed-Purple 187D. -   Other stem or plant characteristics: Stems covered with lenticels at     a density of approximately 3.5 lenticels per square cm.     -   -   Lenticel length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Lenticel width.—Approximately 0.075 cm.         -   Lenticel color.—About RHS Greyed-Purple 187D. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 6. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 14.8 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 10.1 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Broad oval to broad elliptic oblong.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate, approximately 2 teeth per cm.         -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, non-pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 8.6 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green             146A. Young foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green             146B. Mature foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 138A.             Mature foliage under side. Near R.H.S. Green 138A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B. Venation color under side. Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—High. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 3.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Continuous April through September. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal inflorescence.         -   Type.—Flattened compound corymb.         -   Height.—Approximately 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 19.0 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers,             approximately 15. Sterile Flowers, approximately 220. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape (sterile flowers).—Obovate.         -   Bud length (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Bud diameter (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Bud color (sterile flowers).—Near R.H.S. Greyed-Purple 186D.             Base/calyx: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146C.         -   Bud shape (fertile flowers).—Globose.         -   Bud length (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Bud diameter (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Bud color (fertile flowers).—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D.             Fertile flowers do not open. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Rotate.         -   Facing direction.—All directions.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—235.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 1880.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Fertile; Approximately 0.5 cm.             Sterile: Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Fertile; Approximately 0.5 cm. Sterile:             Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 5 days from the bud stage. Whole Plant:             Approximately 50% of flowers open at once.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Fertile flowers: Approximately 5             days. Sterile flowers: Approximately 25 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Fragrance.—No. -   Petals:     -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 0.47 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 0.27 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal number.—Approximately 5.         -   Petals fused.—No.         -   Petal appearance.—Dull.         -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Smooth. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 62D. Base:             Slightly Near White 155D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 62C. Base: Near             Red-Purple 62D.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 62C. Base: Near             Red-Purple 62D.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 62D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 62D. Base: Near             Red-Purple 62D and White 155.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 59C. Base: Near             Red-Purple 59D. -   Petaloids: No. -   Fragrance: None.

CALYX

-   Present: Yes. -   Shape: Rotate, lower ¾ fused. -   Length: Approximately 0.35 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.45 cm.

SEPAL

-   Sepals: Only sterile flowers have sepals. Fertile flowers do not     open. -   Number: Average 5. -   Sepal texture (both surfaces): Smooth. -   Sepal arrangement: Rotate. -   Sepal length: Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Sepal width: Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Sepal shape: Deltoid. -   Base: Fused into a short tube. -   Apex shape: Acute. -   Margin: Entire. -   Color: Upper side near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144D. Under side near     R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C, base Yellow-Green 144D.

PEDUNCLE

-   Length: Approximately 4.8 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.35 cm. -   Angle: Approximately 30 degrees (0 degrees=straight upright). -   Strength: Strong -   Color: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144B.

PEDICEL

-   Present: Yes. -   Length (sterile flowers): Approximately 1.1 cm. -   Diameter (sterile flowers): Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Angle (sterile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees. -   Strength (sterile flowers): Strong. -   Color (sterile flowers): Near White 155A, slightly tinged base     Greyed-Purple 187D. -   Length (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.7 cm. -   Diameter (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Angle (fertile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees. -   Strength (fertile flowers): moderate -   Color (fertile flowers): Near White 155A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—3.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Lobed.         -   Stigma color.—Near Red-Purple 57D.         -   Style color.—Near Red-Purple 62D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.15 cm.         -   Ovary color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Stamens.—Average 10.         -   Anther shape.—Broad kidney-shaped.         -   Anther size.—15 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near White 155A, filament colored Red-Purple             62C.         -   Pollen color.—Near White 155A.         -   Pollen quantity.—Very low.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. Drought     tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant of some     high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has not been     observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at least up to     40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed, however, observed     hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been observed. -   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidasora’ as herein illustrated and described. 